, 1887-11-19
Land Claimants Come Into Collision
With Deadly Effect.
. Ready Rifle Terminates the
Dispute.
Ths Murderer Gives Himself Up tC
the Authorities.
He Is Known to Many Residents
of Cheyenne.
Special Dispatch to The Leader.

resulting in the instant death OF two men
occurred in the Centennial valley, thirty
five miles south of this city yesterday,
The tragedy is unparalleled even in the
bloody criminal annals of Albany coun-
ty. 1t was a double killing of the char
scter frequently reported as occurring
among the desperate vendetta of Ken
lucky, where the determination ofseveral
members of one family bv the represen-
tltive of another band of desperadoes is
an incident recurring with APPALLING fire.
qnency.
The conflict nov being investigated by
the authorities and commented upon by
the citizens resulted in the death of Geo.
Bird, ranchman, and an employe who
accompanied him upon the fatal mission
which caused the double killing.
jesse Mcdowell, a rauchman, is the
man upon whose hands are the terrible
stains OF his fellow mans life blood.
The murderer occupies a cell in the
coeuty iail, having FASTENED to Laramie
Immediately after the killing and sar
rendered himself to the sheriff with the
statement that in a controversy with two
men he hal shot and wounded both as
s%ailants, and desired to be incarcerated
until the result of the collision became
known. He was quite cool and self
supposed that he had shot his opponents
unto death in a battle he termed a contro-
Yersy.
Several hours after McDowell's arrival
intense excitement was created by the ad-
vent Of a messenger from Centennial, bear
ing intelligence of the double tragedy. In
his haste the man had been unable to
| arm anything beyond the fact hat Nc
Dowell had killed the two men.
Acting upon the indefinite intelligence
obtainable, the sheriff, prosecuting attor-
ney, coroner and an undertaken left for
the scene of bloodshed. Until their return
tomorrow afternoon no absolutely reliable
particulars can be learned.
Mcdowell and Bird are well known
hire The former has a number OF &C,
quaintances in Cheyenne. He is about
43 years of age, a perfect gentleman in
actions and speech. During a residence
Of twenty years in this section Mcdowell
has been regarded a worthy citizen
Though a determined and positive man,
he was considered peaceable and WAS
never before involved in trouble OF any
nature He is unmarried.
But little is known of the victims. Bird
was the custodian of a ranch in litigation,
and had taken up" a ranch near by.
he bore a good reputation, but was uu-
assuming ami bashful, forming few ac-
quaintanceships. Bird leaves a wife and
Que child-a son. The identity of the
s 'cond target of McDowelrs unerring aim
g q m liter Of speculation.
Ine u ances which led to the kill
ing can be stated in a few words. Bird
Willie protecting the property in legation
and looking after the interests of the
claimants, pre-empted an adjourning
tract. Mcdowell became convinced that
NV SlAlS hOl DGSu hdNG III ROOu ldllu
and with a view to contesting its le-
G,lity homosteaded the claim. Bird and
his companion attempted to evict the
intruder. Resistance and hot words
preceded the meuaces which led to the
deadly conflict.
This afternoon a Boomerang reporter
interviewed Mcdowell. ThouLh de-
pressed in spirits he talked free
ly and unhesitatingly. After re-
Iating several minor incidents in con-
nection with making preparations for the
transportation Of some timber, he said:
Standing near my wagon | heard some
talking a little way up the road, and
looking up saw Bird and his
man coming along in their wagon. l
stood still and they drove up right along
side my tent and log pile. Bird was sit
ting on the opposite side from me, and
was driving He got up, and crossing in
front of his man got out on the side |
vas standing at. walked lenRthwise of the
wagon, and throwing aside something in
the back end of the bed, hurriedly took
out his gun, a rife | think it was, which
he raised to his shoulder like, apd said:
Il see you have got some more logs
here for us to cut up?"
l sad: George, I'd rather you
wouldn't do it"
He said: I'm going to cut them up
if have you to kill, -- you!'
l said: George. seeing as you are so
determined in this thing, it isn't but a
few steps to get my things off from here,
and I'll take them away"
At this the man in the wagon spoke up
and said: We're going TO chop your logs
up and kill you too"
George said: "les. - you" II
While | was talking to George" con
sinued Mcdowell, Il moved my tent just